Tunneling-machine.



0. vS. PROCTOR.

TUNNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE 29, 1910. RENEWED JAN. 13. 1916.

1,201,097. Patented Oct. 10,1916.

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TUNNELING MACHINE.

Armcmon FILED IIJIIE 29. mo. RENEWED um. 13. ms.

1,201,097. Patented 0m.10,1916.

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TUNNELING MACHINE. AiPUCATION .FILED JUNE 29, 1910- RENEWED JAN. 13. 1916.

1 ,201 ,097. Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

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TUNNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLEDJUNE 29. 19 10. RENEWED JAN. 13.1916.

1,201,097. Y Patented 001:. 10,1916.

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TUNNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29. 1910. RENEWED JAN; 13,1916.

1,201,097. Patented Oct. 10,1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIN S. PROCTOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE ROCK TUNNELLING MACHINE 60., INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TUNNELING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10,1916.

Application filed June 29, 1910, Serial No. 569,424. I Renewed January 13, 1916. Serial No..71,998.

'1 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OLIN S. PROOTOR, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York city, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tunneling- Machines. a

My invention relates .to new and useful improvements in tunneling machines, of the same general character or type shown and described in the Letters Patent of the United States granted to me and numbered 900,950, and 900,953, dated October 13,

1908, and the joint' pending application filed by me and Edward F. Terry, serially numbered 486,730, filed March 30, 1909.

The objects of the present invention are to provide improved and simplified means for propelling the machine during the tunneling operatlon; to provide efiicient means for supporting the machine in the cut and assuring proper position of the parts during the progression of the machine; and to provide improved cutting or digging means which will operate efficiently in rock formations or in softer materials.

Other objects Will be apparent as the description of the invention hereinafter given progresses.

The invention consists of the improvements to be fully described hereinafter, and the novelty of which will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

I have fully and clearly illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings to be taken as a part of this specification and wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a structure exemplifying my invention. Fig.

' 2 is a top plan view of the same structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of an improved cutting head embodying an important feature of my pres ent invention. Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation. Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section through an improved form of automatically acting drill employed in connection with the cutting head. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the guide cylinder with piston and connected parts in elevation.

' for which it is intended, said shaft serving as the rotary. carrier upon which is mounted a rotatable head carrying the cut ting or digging means by which the tunnel ing operation is performed. At its forward end on that end toward the work, this shaft 1 is mounted in a frame consisting of upper and lower parts 2 and 3, preferably in the form of substantial castings. In the lower part 3 of the frame is provided a bearing 4, in which the shaft 1 rests and turns, the part 2 closing said bearing. In the rear of and supported in part by the two part frame just described is arranged a tubular bearing member 5, through which said shaft 1 extends, said bearing member 5 being in alinement with the bearing4 formed by the parts 2 and 3 heretofore described, the forward end of the member 5 terminating a distance from the rear end of the bearing 4, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, to provide a space in which turns a worm gear 6 mounted on and rigidly secured to the shaft 1. The tubular member 5, which is non-rotatable, is rigidly secured to the frame work, 2, 3, and in fact, these parts form a unitary structure, by means of braces 7 bolted to said part 5, each of said braces having at their upper portions a horizontal recessed part 8, which parts abut to form a tubular seat 9 which serves a purpose to be presently set forth. These recessed parts 8 are each connected to a bracket 10, said brackets engaging each other and being integral with the frame part 2, if desired. Each of the brackets is formed with a vertical recessed part 11, which parts when assembled abut to form a vertical cylinder 12, the purpose of which will appear presently. The bracket and braces may be secured together by suitable bolts 13, arranged in sets adjacent the seats vided with a foot or runner .19 adapted to rest upon the surface of the out within which the machine is working.

Rotatably seated within cylinder 12 is a piston 20 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and

, tion. The angle of the plane in which this wheel rotates to the longitudinal direction of the tunneling means, is adjustable by rotating the piston 20, any suitable means for this purpose being employed, but I prefer to employ a yoke 23 which straddles the wheel and is connected tothe said wheel and oke 21, the rear end of the yoke 23 being bifurcated as at 24, the bifurcation receiving one end of a link 25, which is threaded onto a horizontal shaft 26 arranged to turn in brackets 27 on the brackets 10, said shaft having a hand wheel 28 by means of which it may be rotated. The link 25 is preferably pivoted to the yoke 23 by a pivoted bolt 29. It will be seen that by rotating the shaft 26, the wheel 22 may be swung on its mounting in either direction. The function of this wheel will be described later.

Mounted on the forward end ofthe shaft 1 beyond the forward supporting frame, is a head 30 which carries the cutting and digging means by which the tunneling operation is performed. This means comprises a plurality of power operated tools,which are so located on the face of said head and are so distributed and set at such angles to each other that substantially the entire surface upon which the machine is working is subjected to the action of these drills. The drills or other cutting tools proper operated by the automatic tools are also arranged so as to work in diflerent paths of rotation. This head 30 may be provided with arms 31, and each arm is provided with a plurality of sleeves 32, in each of which is rigidly secured one of these automatic tools. These tools are so supported that they'deliver their blows in a line inclined forwardly to the plane of rotation of the head, the tools being inclined rearwardly relative to the direction of rotation of the head.

In its broadest aspect my invention contemplates the use of any'form of automatically operated tool which Wlll -'be set in operation to cut or drill upon being applied to the work, no act of the attendant being necessary to start the drill, and more specifically the invention contemplates the use of an automatically acting drill or tool which will be started in operation when the work provides a determined degree of resistance thereto, and more specifically still in the use of a plurality of tools which will not only automatically start when the determined resistance thereto is afforded by the work, but which will automatically stop when the resistance afforded by the work is removed, but it may be of the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings which I will now describe :33 designates the casing of a fluid pressure operated tool, the same being substantially cylindrical in general contour and formed with a bore 0r chamber divided 1nto two parts 34, 35, which are of different diameters, the part 35 being of the smaller diameter, the end of the chamber 34 being closed by a plug 36 threaded into the casing as shown. .At its opposite end the casing has threaded therein a bushing 37, formed with a longitudinal bore in which is slidably arranged the shank of a cutting tool or drill bit 38, the same having a longitudinal recess 39 to receive the inner end of a cross key 40, the latter being held in place by a pin 41 projected through the casing Wall into a recess in said key. The recess 39 is lon er than the width of said pin, so that the it will have a limited sliding movement in the bushing 37. It will be noted that the rear end of the bit projects within the bore of the casing.

Arranged within the bore of the casing is a-piston hammer having a part 42 within the chamber 35 of smaller diameter and an enlarged head 43 within the chamber 34, said hammer having a longitudinal inwardly tapering bore 44 opening into the chamber 34, the inner end of said bore terminating at approximately a point midway the ends of the piston hammer and opening at its inner end out through the hammer by ducts or ports 45.

The inlet for the fluid pressure for operating the piston hammer is shown at 46, the same opening into a duct 47 which opens into the chamber 34 at a point approximating the point where the chambers 34 and 35 meet, a shoulder 34 being located at this point. The exhaust is shown at 48 leading from the chamber 35, and this chamber connects by ducts or passages 49 with' an annular groove 50 in the face of the chamber 35, and so located thatwhen the hammer is in position of delivering the blow to the bit, as shown in Fig. 5, the ducts 45 heretofore described, communicate therewith so that the chamber 34 is in communication with the exhaust. applied to the work and suflicient resistance is afforded. it is pushed back to the position shown in Fig. 5, which opens the chamber.

When the bit is ment continuing until the ducts 45 are position to receive pressure directly from the inlet 46. When these ducts 45 permit pressure to enter the bore of the hammer,

and as the area acted upon by the pressure between the said bore and the chamber walls is greater than the area acted upon between the shoulder on the hammer and the shoulder 34, the hammer will be moved toward the bit, the exhaust being cut ofl by the wall of the chamber between the groove 50 and the chamber 34. As soon as the forward movement of the hammer carries the ducts 45 into communication with the groove 50, the pressure in the chamber 34 exhausts into the chamber 35 and out to atmosphere through the exhaust 48. The parts are then in position to repeat the operation just described. When there is not suflicient resistance to the bit to force the hammer to the position shown in Fig. 5, the hammer when moved toward the bit will go far enough to, cause the parts to pass the groove and thereby cut oil the exhaust from the chamber 34, and the rear edge of-the head 43 will uncover a by-pass 51 opening from the inlet duct 47 into the cylinder and admit the fluid pressure thereto which will act upon the hammer to hold it in its farthermost position with the exhaust closed,

whereby the hammer is not operated.-

Should the bit be moved by the work, the

hammer is moved to connect the pressure in 34 with the exhaust, and the operation heretofore described, takes place. 6

52 designates generally a rear frame part, the same being preferably, although not essentially, triangular in shape and consisting of a horizontal base leg 53 and side legs 54, the points of union between the base and side legs being provided with runners or feet 55, adapted to rest on the surface of the tunnel wall as shown in Fig. 4. At the apex of the triangular frame 52 is a hydraulic jack cylinder 56 carrying a foot 57, the plunger 58 of which cylinder is fixed to the apex of the frame, the arrangement being such that when fluid is admitted to the cylinder the latter is moved to place the foot in engagement with the roof of the tunnel, the. operation serving to rigidly secure the i'earframe 52 in place.

Pivotally connected to the triangular frame at each of the junctures between the base and the side legs, as at 59, is the outer end of the plunger 60 of a hydraulic jack cylinder61, the cylinders being each pivotally connected as at 62, to one of the legs of the front supporting frame, there being two of these jacks, and a third jack is provided, the. plunger 63 of which being pivoted to the cylinder 56, as shown at 64. The

cylinder 65 for this last mentioned jack is pivoted as at 66 to an anchor block 67 secured in the seat 9 heretofore described.

The fore and rear frames are connected by means of longitudinally extending brace members 68 to prevent rotation of one of said frames relative to the other, said members being rigidly connected to the fore frame and having their rear ends slidably arranged in openings 69 at the opposlte sides of the base of the rear frame.

The rear frame and the jacks described scribed:-Mounted on a platform 70 supported by the fore frame is a fluid pump 71, which may be driven from a suitable motor 72 by interposed gearing 73, said pump being adapted to pump water or other fluid to the jacks, the flow being controlled by a valve mechanism which permits of independent or concerted action on the part of the jacks. See Fig. 7. This valve mechanism comprises a valve block having a conduit 74 connected to the pump cylinders, and a plurality of pockets 75 each of which is connected by a duct 76 with said conduit 74. Each chamber or pocket is closed at its rear portion by a plug 7 6 threaded into the block, and hav-.

by the valve 78 when the latter is-removed from its position to close the passage 77. The passages 77 are each connected by a duct 81 with a common return duct 82 connected by a pipe 82 to a source of water supply.

Also leading from each of the chambers 75 is a duct 83, to each of which is connected a pipe leading to the hydraulic cylinders, there being a pipe leading to each end of every cylinder and a valve to control each pipe. By reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the valve block is connected to the ends of the upper cylinder 65 by pipes 84, the jack to the rightof the base by the pipes 85, the jack' to the left by the pipes 86 .and the ack 56 by the single pipe 87. The flow of fluid to the jacks is adapted to be controlled both to and from the jacks by means of the valves '75, and by means of manipulating these Valves the course of thecmachine-may be varied either upward or downward or laterally, be forced toward the work or retracted from it.

Referring particularly to the jacks 61 and 65, I would state that the plungers thereof are adapted to be positively moved in both the feed of fluid to the outer end of the cylinder is open so as to close the duct 76 and permit the fluid from the outer end of the cylinder to escape the feed pipe into the pocket and out to the common return 82 by way of thepassages 77 and 81. By this operation it will be seen that while the water is being fed to the jack to expel'the plunger,

the fluid on the opposite side of the plunger head Will escape. If it is desired to retract the plunger within the cylinder the controlling valves are operated in a reversed manner so that the escape of fluid is permitted from the inner end of the cylinder and the fluid is fed to the outer end of the cylinder. From this description it will be seen that the jacks 61 and 65 are what are known as double acting jacks. The jack 56 for holding the rear frame in position in the tunnel, is a single acting jack requiring but one controlling valve, which, when moved to the position shown in Fig. 7, permits the feed of the fluid to the cylinder to move the same into positive engagement with the roof of the tunnel.

The operation of the jacks 61 and 65 to change the direction of the tunneling operation is as follows: If it is desired to cause the head to cut in .a downward direction, the valves to control the lower jacks are operated sothat the fluid is fed to the jack cylinders at their outer ends in order to hold the cylinders against rearward movement of the plungers, while the valves controlling the flow to the upper jack are operated so as to feed the fluid to the inner end of the cylinder to cause a forward a movement of the upper portion of the fore frame and permit the leakage of the fluid at the outer end of the cylinder. When this is done it will be seen thatthe lower jack cylinders will be held fixed and the upper cylinder 'will serve to swing the frame downward, the connections between the lower portion of the frame and the lower jacks serving as fulcrums upon which the fore frame can swing. The proper direction of the head having been taken, the Valves are then manipulated so as to cause all of the jacks 61 and 65 to force the head forward, it being understood that the rear frame is fixed in position while this operation is taking place. If it is desired to move the fore frame so as to cause the tunneling operation to change direction either to the right or to the left, the lower jack on the side toward which the change of direction is to take place, is held infixed position while the upper jack and the lower jack on the opposite side are operated so as to expel their plungers and cause the fore frame to swing around upon the first mentioned jack asa fulcrum. It is believed that the description of the operation of the controlling valves heretofore given, need not be repeated as it will be clearly understood how they should be operated in order to cause the jacks to perform the functions just set forth.

Mounted upon the platform 7 0 heretofore described, is a suitable motor 87, which may be a compressed airmotor which drives a driving shaft 88 by a piston rod connection 87 connecting the motor pistons with the cranks 88 on said shaft, which shaft is mounted in bearings 89 on said platform and carrying a pinion 90, which meshes gear 91 on a shaft 92 journaled in suitable bearings on the bracket 10, said shaft 92 carrying a worm pinion 93 which meshes with the pinion on the shaft 1. When this motor is set in operation it serves to drive the shaft 1 to cause rotation of the tool carrying head 43 in a manner which it is thought to be clearly understood. The hollow shaft 1 is fed with compressed air from a suitable source by a conduit 94, the fluid from said conduit to the shaft being controlled by valve 95, and said motor 87 being also fed from the conduit by means of a branch pipe 96.

The automatic tools carried on the head, are adapted to receive the fluid pressure fed thereto from the hollow shaft 1 and for this purpose I provide a plurality of branch pipes 97 connected to the hollow head and feeding the cylinders of the automatic tools by means'of flexible tubes 98 connecting said branch pipe with said cylinders. I prefer, although it is not essen-,

tial, to remove each one of the automatic tools on the rotatable head independently of the others so that in case of accident, any one of said tools may be removed for repairs without affecting the remaining tube. Any suitable means may be employed for securing the tools in place but I prefer to provide each cylinder with an angular flange 99 which is secured to the sleeve on the head by means of fastening bolts 100.

It is thought that the operation of the invention, as above described, will be clear from the description already given in so far as it relates to the means for propelling and guiding the machine, but I will now describe briefly the operation of the cutting head which forms an improved feature of my invention: When it is desired to perform the tunneling operation, the head isrotated by means of the driving motor and the rear frame, having previously been fixed in position in the tunnel and the controlling valves for the jacks are then manipulated so as to cause the jacks to force the fore frame of the machine toward the work. As soon as the bits of the drills or tools come in contact with the work and the latter gives suflicient resistance to the tools to cause the same to operate, they will act by impact on the material to tear the same down, this operation continuing as long as there is suflicient resistance to cause the bits of the tools to be forced back in the cylinders to set the piston hammers in operation. Under ordinary circumstances, should the tools be working in soft earth,,the mere rotation of the head will be'suflicient to cause the tools to perform the cutting operation without necessarily causing the tools to act by impact, but should a hard surface, such as rock, be encountered, the resistance will be sufiicient to cause the drills to act by impact. During the rotation of the head the blows of the drills may have a tendency to cause a rotation of the fore frame in the tunnel but this is prevented by means of the pose the force of the drills and cause the fore frame to be maintained upright during the tunneling operation.

As above stated, while the tunneling operation is going on, the jacks are continuously forcing the" head forward, which if continued, would eventually cause the plungers to move their full extent outward from within the cylinders. When it is seen by the operator that the plungers have been projected from the cylinders as far as is desirable, the rear frame is released from its engagement with the roof of the tunnel and the jacks are then operated to draw the rear frame forward to substantially the position shown in Fig. 2, after which said rear frame is again clamped into position and the jacks may again be operated to cause the forward movement of the fore frame and head, utilizing the rear frame as the base of resistance.

What I claim and desire to show byLetters Patent is:

1. In a tunneling machine, in combination, a rotary head, a plurality of power actuated reciprocating impact tools carried thereby, means for rotating said head, means for advancing said head to place the tools in engagement with the work, and for withdrawing the head to disengage the tools from the work, and means whereby said tools operate when advanced into engagement with the work, and are automatically stopped when disengaged from. the work.

2. In a tunneling machine, in combination,

a rotary head, a plurality of power actuated reciprocating impact tools carried thereby, means for rotating said head, means for advancmg said head to place the tools in engagement with the head, and for withdrawing the head to disenga e the tools from the work, and means where y said tools operate when advanced, into engagement with the work, and are automatically stopped when disengaged from the work, said last named means comprising individual means for each tool controlled automatically to start the tool when engaged with the work, and to stop the tool when disengaged from the work.

3. In a tunneling machine, a rotary head, a plurality of independent reciprocating power operated impact tools carried thereby, means whereby each tool is automatically set in operation .by engagement of the.

tool with the work, and is stopped by disengagement of the tool with the work independent of the other tools, said tools being inclined forwardly relative to the direction of rotation of the head, means for rotating said head, and means for advancing the head toward, and withdrawing it from the work.

4. In a tunneling machine, in combination, triangular fore and rear frames, a cutter' head carried by the fore frame having' a plurality of independent impact tools carried thereby, means for fixing the rear .frame in position and hydraulic jacks connecting the 'apex portions of the fore frame with the corresponding apexes respectively of the rear frame.

5. In a tunneling machine,- in combination, a fore frame carrying a rotary cutter head provided with a plurality of independent impact tools, a rear frame triangular in elevation, means, for fixing the rearframe in position and hydraulic jacks respectively connecting the apex portions of the said triangular frame with the fore frame.

6. Ina tunneling machine, in combination, a fore frame carrying a rotary cutter head provided with a plurality of independentimpact tools, a rear frame trian lar in elevation, means for fixing the rear rame in position and an upper and two laterally disposed lower hydraulic jacks respectively connecting the 'apex portions of the said triangular frame with the fore frame.

7 In a tunneling machine, in combination, a fore frame, a rotary cutter head supported solely by said fore frame, a rear frame, means for fixing the said rear frame, and an upper hydraulic jack, and two lower laterally disposed hydraulic jacks connecting said frames.

8. In a tunneling machine, in combination, a fore frame, a rotary cutter head and power means for driving the same-mounted on said fore frame, a rear frame, means for fixing the rear frame, and a plurality of jacks connecting the said frames to propel the fore frame and change the angularity of axis of rotation of the cutter head relative to the rear frame.

9. In a tunneling machine, in combination, a fore frame, a rotary cutter head and power means for driving the same sup orted wholly on said fore frame, a rear frame, means for fixing the rear frame, a plurality of fluid jacks connecting the said frames, and independent controlling means for each jack mounted on the fore frame.

10. In a tunneling machine, in combination, a fore frame, a shaft journaled wholly in said fore frame, a cutter head carried by said shaft, means on the fore frame for driving said shaft and cutter head, a rear frame, means for fixing the same and means connecting the fore frame and rear frame for changing the angle of the fore frame relative to the rear frame to change the axis of rotation of the cutter head.

11. In a tunneling machine, a fore frame and a rear frame, a rotary cutter head mounted on the fore frame, means for fixing the rear frame and a plurality of independ ently operable jacks forming the sole means for connecting the fore and rear frames.

12. In a tunneling machine, a fore frame and a rear frame, a rotary cutter head mounted on the fore frame, means for fixing the rear frame and a plurality of independently operable jacks forming the sole means for connecting the fore and rear frames, said jacks being pivotally connected to the rear frame.

13. In a tunneling machine, a fore frame and a rear frame, a rotary cutter head mounted on the fore frame, means for fixing the rear frame and a plurality of independently operable jacks forming the sole means for connecting the fore and rear frames, said jfacks being pivotally connectedto the fore rame.

14. In a tunneling machine, a fore frame the rear frame and a. plurality of independently operable jacks forming the sole means for connecting the fore and rear frames, said jacks being pivotally connected to the said frames.

15. In a tunneling machine, a forward frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and' carrying a cutting head, runners upon which said frame is adapted to slide, a rearframe having means for fixing the same within the tunnel, hydraulic jacks connecting the forward and rear frames for moving the frames .relative to each other and a runner wheel adjustably mounted on the forward frame and adapted to'engage the tunnel wall.

16. In a tunneling machine, a forward frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and carrying a cutting head, runners upon which said frame is adapted to slide, a rear frame having means for fixing the same within the tunnel, hydraulic jacks connecting the forward and rear frames for moving the frames relative to each other, a frame rotatably mounted on the forward frame, a runner wheel mounted in said rotatable frame, and 'means for adjusting the runner wheel frame to change the angle of the axis of rotation of the runner wheel.

17. In a tunneling machine, a forward frame, a shaft rotatably mounted in said frame and carrying a cutting head, runners upon which said frame is adapted to slide, a rear frame having means for fixing the same within the tunnel, hydraulic jacks connecting. the forward and rear frames for moving the frames relative to each other, a frame rotatably mounted on the forward frame, a runner wheel mounted in said rotatable frame, means for adjusting the runner wheel frame to change the angle of the axis of rotation of the runner wheel, and means for forcing the said wheel into engagement with the tunnel wall.

OLIN S. PROCTOR. 

